Frequently Asked Questions
Remove suckers with a hand pruners as soon as they appear from their point of origin. Often this requires pulling a little bit of soil back to find the base and clip it off while still less than 6 to 12 inches in length. If suckers...
Perennial grassy weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have long, narrow leaves with parallel veins. They are often in the Poaceae (grass) family or a closely related family and...
Once seeds are collected and properly cleaned, they need to be stored. Proper storage conditions for seeds are essential to maintain viability and good germination at planting time. ...
The late growing season is a good time to collect seeds from vegetables and flowers. Seed saving allows gardeners to preserve heirloom varieties or their favorite plants from year to year. Once harvested, the seed will need to be cleaned to...
The late growing season is a good time to collect seeds from vegetables and flowers. Seed saving allows gardeners to preserve heirloom varieties or their favorite plants from year to year.
Collect the Seed When Mature
...
Look for Open-Pollinated Plants
It is easiest to save seed from varieties of vegetables and plants that are open-pollinated. These seedlings typically resemble the parent plants as long as they are not allowed to cross pollinate...
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a native vine common to woodland areas but found frequently growing in gardens and along fence lines. This vine causes an allergic reaction (dermatitis) in most people when their skin comes in...
Keep Leaves in Place, When Possible
Leaving the leaves alone is a good way to support native pollinators and other insects and wildlife. These valuable insects rely on the habitat fallen leaves provide, especially over the winter...
Unfortunately, there is not one standard answer to this question! When trying to determine the primary cause of the problem, several factors need to be given consideration. Remember that dieback does not always occur in the first year. Some...
Fertilization
Garlic requires more fertilizer than many vegetables. Apply and incorporate 1 to 2 pounds of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, per 100 square feet of garden area prior to planting. Lightly incorporate one...
In Iowa, October is the time to plant garlic cloves 1-1.5 inches deep and 3-5 inches apart in well-drained, fertile soils.
Ideal Planting Conditions
Grow garlic in well-drained, fertile soils that are...
Garlic is distinguished from its other close family members like onions, chives, shallots, and leeks, by its flat leaves and clove-like bulbs which contain several small scales or cloves enclosed in a white or purplish parchment-like sheath....
Weedy vines are fast growing plants, getting very large in a relatively short amount of time often climbing and covering other garden plants. If left to grow, they can smother other plants blocking out light and killing the desirable plant.
...Determining the identity of an apple variety is difficult as there are hundreds of potential cultivars or varieties of which it could be. Iowa State University does not offer apple variety identification services.
Locate...
Woody weeds are trees and shrubs that have woody plant tissue. They are perennial and typically classified as eudicots, although some may belong to other plant groups like gymnosperms (conifers). Examples of woody weeds include...
Planting Depth
Plant bulbs at a depth equal to two or three times their maximum bulb diameter. Larger bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are often planted 6-8 inches deep. The smaller bulbs like squill, snowdrops and crocus are...
Light Requirements
Most bulbs should be planted in a full or part-sun location. Early blooming bulbs are often successful beneath a high branched deciduous tree because they usually flower before the tree fully leafs out. After the bulbs...
October is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs in Iowa. This allows bulbs to establish and develop good roots before winter. Planting bulbs too early in the season in September when soil temperatures have not yet cooled may cause some...
There are a number of species and varieties of bulbs and bulb-like structures like corms and tubers that grow well in Iowa. Some of these species are readily available from retailers and others may have to be purchased from specialty producers or...
Perennial grassy weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have long thin leaves with parallel veins. Perennial weeds reproduce by seeds or may spread by creeping above or below ground...
Perennial broadleaf weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have leaves that are wider and are typically botanically classified as eudicots (dicots). Perennial weeds reproduce by...
Cutting back or mowing off weeds is sometimes used to control weeds in the garden or lawn. Timely or frequent cutting back stresses the weed and reduces its competitive advantage over more desirable plants. Consistent removal of the...
Preemergent herbicides are used to prevent weeds from growing. They interrupt the growing process of a newly germinating plant, preventing that plant from becoming established. Preemergent herbicides will not impact mature or established...
Annual weeds grow rapidly, flower, set seed and die in a single season. New annual weeds germinate from seeds each year. Before they die, most annual weeds produce large quantities of seeds.
It is very important to destroy these...
Flame weeding is the use of intense heat, usually produced by a propane torch or other fuel-burning device, to kill weeds. This organic option for weeding causes the water and sap inside the plant cell to boil and expand rupturing the cell...
Pages
